Descriptive Geography and Brief Historical Sketch of Palestine

By Rabbi Joseph Schwarz, 1850

History of the Jews in Hebron.

Hebron
is called in Arabic בית אל
חליל Beth al Chalil, "The House of the Beloved,"
because Isaac, the beloved son of Abraham, was born and educated here, and, as
appears from Genesis 22:1, resided also here a long time. It is situated in the
portion of Judah, 20 English miles south from Jerusalem, in a valley (Gen.
37:14). The mountains which surround it are the highest points of the mountains
of Judah, and are 2664 feet above the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a
small town, or, more correctly speaking, a very large village, which consists of
several divisions, each, so to say, constituting a village by itself. It
contains several thousand Arabic inhabitants. On its eastern end is the cave of
Machpelach מערת
המכפלה, Arabic, Al Magr, i. e. the cave. It
is also called the Fort of David, and is a very handsome and most ancient
structure, built of immense stones, and surrounded with strong and high walls.
It forms, in a measure, a fortress. Beneath the surface of the earth is the
celebrated cave where the patriarchs lie buried. It is covered over with
masonry, having a small opening on the top, through which the Mahomedans
constantly lower burning lamps, and maintain there a perpetual light. Above this
cavern is a mosque, built at a later date.

Hebron
is mentioned but little in history after the destruction of Jerusalem, and I
will therefore merely relate the few traces which I was able to find.

When
Benjamin of Tudela travelled through Palestine in 4930 (1170), Hebron was
entirely destroyed, probably through the wars of the Christians with the
Saladdinian kings. He says, "Here is a large church, called St. Abraham; and
it was, when the country was still in possession of the Ishmaelites, a Jewish
Synagogue." This proves that, during the rule of the Mahomedans, before the
Christians came, Jews must have lived there. About seventy years later, when
Rabbi Pethachiah of Ratisbonne ר׳
פתחי׳
מריגנסבורג travelled
through Palestine, it was already in a measure rebuilt; but no Jews were living
in it. At the time of the Nachmonides in
5027 (1267), some Jews were found here, as he wrote to his son* that he was on
the point of going to Hebron to select for himself a spot to be buried in. It
appears, however, that they afterwards quitted it again, as Astori, in the year
5082 (1322), says nothing of any Jewish families in Hebron. In 5283 (1523),
there lived here but ten Jewish families. When, in 5300 (1540), the
celebrated Rabbi Jechiel Ashkenazi went to Hebron, he found in it many Caraites.
He founded there a Jewish congregation; and it appears that he purchased a
Synagogue, which exists to this day, and belongs to the Sephardin (Portuguese),
from the Caraites. About twenty-five years ago there came several messengers
from the Caraite congregation at Constantinople, to lay claim to the said
Synagogue, alleging that it was originally their property; but they were easily
and soon confuted, for they could not establish their allegation. Since the time
of R. Jechiel to our own day, Hebron was uninterruptedly inhabited by Jews.

In
5594 (1834), Hebron met with a heavy calamity, since it was taken by storm on
the 28th day of Tamuz (July), by Abraim Pacha, and given up to his soldiers for
several days. One can better imagine than describe the scenes which were then
enacted. Nearly all the Mahomedan inhabitants fled into the depth of the
mountain range, but the Jews could not do this; besides which, they entertained
but little fear, since they could not be viewed as rebels and enemies by Abraim,
wherefore they fell an easy prey into the hands of the assailants. When the
Pacha marched out to take Hebron, a petition was presented to him by the
officers of the Jewish congregation in Jerusalem to take these unfortunate
people under his protection, which he faithfully promised to do; but,
notwithstanding this, they were not spared at the taking of the town, so that
five Jews were purposely murdered, and all their property which had not. been
buried under ground was either stolen or destroyed in the most wanton and cruel
manner. Abraim did then indeed place a guard around their quarter of the town,
but it was too late; and he said, "Whatever is already in the hands of the
conquerors, the soldiers, cannot be demanded back again of them;" wherefore
the whole Jewish community was sunk into poverty.

One
of the leaders of the Hebron rebels was the Sheich Abd al Rachman, who had his
seat not far from the town Al Dura (see p. 113, Art.
Adoraim). He had been for
several years previously the principal personage of the environs, as far as the
Dead Sea and the Djebl (Mount Seir). When Abraim Pacha had conquered the
country, he fled, and the Pacha appointed in his place the Mutzelim, Abu Suwat,
who had been even before this time an enemy of Abd al Rachman, and he therefore
acted inimically towards those of his family who had been left behind. But when
the government of Abraim came to an end, in 5601 (1841), the banished chief
again appeared, greatly respected and with increased power. He also acquired
anew a strong party, and became again the Sheich of the whole district. He
thereupon caused Abu Suwat to be publicly executed in Hebron, and acquired
gradually such authority that the Pacha of Jerusalem did not think it prudent to
venture putting a check on his proceedings and actions; and the name of Abd al
Rachman sounded more fearful and was more respected than that of the Sultan. The
whole vicinity was at that time quite secure, and one could, with the greatest
safety, travel among the Arabs and Bedouins; because they were strictly
prohibited to rob or to make their usual exactions, since this right
belonged to the Sheich alone. He was exceedingly cuning, and never missed making
the capture of those he pursued in a witty and ludicrous manner, and he was
particularly fortunate in his expeditions. So it happened that on his flight he
was caught by the soldiers of Abraim in such a way that they had got hold of his
red terbush:* he nevertheless succeeded in eluding their grasp, merely leaving
the empty terbush in their hands. Towards the Jews he permits no ill-treatment;
but he is a most insatiable leech, as scarcely a day passes on which some demand
is not made, which, though not presented as an extortion, comes in a worse shape
yet--in that of a request or petition, with an understanding that a threat may
be added to enforce compliance. And, as his whole family, from little to big,
imitate, each for his own benefit, the magnanimous head of the house, it is
almost impossible to live among such leeches; and actually the greater part of
the Israelites of Hebron have left it and settled in Jerusalem.

*
A peculiar long cap which the Turks wear, though it is not much used among the
Arabs, who adhere to the turban.

In
the year 5605 (1845), Abd al Rachman's two brothers rebelled against him, and
laid claim to his government, that is, they wanted the right to plunder: they
procured adherents, and a regular partisan warfare ensued; in consequence of
which, Abd al Rachman was driven out. He next collected some Arabs, and had
several bloody fights with his brothers; and it appeared that his good luck had
forsaken him. But at length his star again became in the ascendant, through
which, or rather through his heavy gold, he succeeded to induce the Pacha of
Jerusalem to take his part, who then marched against Hebron with a large force,
in the month of Sivan, 5606 (June, 1846). He took the town after several
skirmishes, and reinstated Abd al Rachman in his government. On this occasion
the Jews suffered severely, many were dangerously wounded at the taking of the
town, and deprived of all their property. The two rebel brothers took to flight,
and have not been heard of up to the time of writing this, in 5609 (1849). Abd
al Rachman governs therefore unopposed, and is very industriously engaged in
filling up the great deficiency in his heap of gold, which had become diminished
through the war with his brothers, by his usual exactions from those subject to
his rule.

Hebron
has two congregations; first the Sephardim, containing about 60 families, who
have a very ancient Synagogue, as I have stated already; and secondly the
Ashkenazim, consisting solely of about 50 families, since many of them have left
and moved to Jerusalem. This congregation, however, has been in existence only
about thirty years. Still, they have two Synagogues, one built thirty years, and
one fifteen years ago.